Various subtle impacts are possible, said Cumberland County Commissioner Rick. Capital Area Transit is Cumberland County’s main provider of public transportation. CAT is funded by Cumberland and Dauphin counties and Harrisburg. It also obtains matching state money.

If Harrisburg couldn’t maintain its level of funding, the two counties could face pressure to make up the difference, or lose state matching funds, Rovegno said.

Another possible impact involves public financing of municipal and school projects. These entities often borrow money by issuing bonds.

Harrisburg’s financial reputation might affect perceptions of the credit worthiness of municipalities and schools in Cumberland County, several financial and business experts said.

To overcome that, Cumberland entities will have to stress their financial stability and the absence of a financial connection to Harrisburg, the experts said.

One Cumberland official privately expressed concern that if Harrisburg were to significantly cut back on police protection and crime rose, problems could spill over into surrounding areas and create demands and risks for other police departments.

There’s also a concern regarding firefighting services.

Harrisburg-based departments provide help in Cumberland County, and vice versa. A cutback in Harrisburg services could cause increased demand for help from Cumberland, said John Wurster, a long-time firefighter and former chief in Wormleysburg. Similarly, major cutbacks in Harrisburg could reduce help available in Cumberland, he said.

Cumberland County sends about 10 percent of its trash to Harrisburg’s incinerator. Still, trash is collected by an array of private haulers, depending on the municipality. These haulers contract with an assortment of landfills and incinerators, said Thomas Imphong, the county’s executive director of solid waste.

Cumberland County has a contract with Harrisburg’s incinerator that lasts until 2017, and includes rate ceilings.

Trash haulers serving Cumberland have options, no matter what happens with Harrisburg’s disposal fees. “It will have a very minimal impact, if any,” Imphong said. More on how the Harrisburg financial crisis has impacted the community: